In September 2014, Hews Media Group-Community News exclusively obtained an agreement between Sigrid Lopez and Central Basin Municipal Water that used $670,000 in taxpayer funded dollars to settle a 2013 sexual battery and harassment lawsuit filed against current Board President Bob Apodaca.
Mr. Apodaca, in a clear conflict-of- interest position, voted in favor of the settlement in a 2014 closed session meeting.
Directors Art Chacon and Phil Hawkins were not present. Both told this newspaper at the time they would have voted no.
The payoff is similar to how Rep. Blake Farenthold (R-TX) used $84,000 in taxpayer dollars to settle with a former aide who sued him for sexual harassment in 2014.
Now, a January 2014 Investigation Report, conducted by EXTTI, Inc. and exclusively obtained by this newspaper, describes in extremely sexually explicit language the alleged harassment of Ms. Lopez by Mr. Apodaca.
The report also alleged Mr. Apodaca harassed other woman at Central Basin.
Contents of the report likely compelled Central Basin to enter into the record settlement agreement with Ms. Lopez, an agreement that allowed Mr. Apodaca to walk away.
The revelation and conclusions of the EXTTI report may have many calling for Mr. Apodaca’s resignation from the Central Basin Board, similar to the resignations happening in some state governments, in both houses of Congress, and in many other private organizations as a result of the #MeToo movement.
It should also draw the attention of Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey.
The investigation was conducted by EXTTI Vice-President Catherine Balin from August 2013 to early January 2014.
In the report, Ms. Balin, a 30-year veteran, indicated that she took detailed notes of each interview and read the notes back to the interviewee, giving each the opportunity to make corrections. All interviewees signed a document attesting the notes were true and correct.
Ms. Lopez was employed with Central Basin from July 2012 to January 2013 to provide public relations as a Client Relations Manager.
The most egregious harassment allegations investigated by Ms. Balin included Mr. Apodaca engaging in sexually explicit comments to Ms. Lopez and making physical sexual overtures towards Ms. Lopez, including touching, patting her body, hugs, and kisses.
During one physical incident, Ms. Lopez alleged Mr. Apodaca grabbed her wrist and forcibly placed her hand on his groin.
Ms. Balin interviewed Ms. Lopez, former COO Chuck Fuentes, disgraced former Central Basin General Manager Art Aguilar, and Mr. Apodaca’s good friend Leon Garcia who, similar to Ms. Lopez, had a service agreement with Central Basin in 2012.
Ms. Balin also interviewed CB Directors Art Chacon, Phil Hawkins and then-Director Ed Vazquez, attorney Arnold Glasman, then-assistant-to-the G.M. Ron Bielke, Central Basin employees Maggie Gomez and Sandi Linares-Plimpton and Mr. Apodaca’s common-law wife Caroline Medrano.
Harassment From Beginning
According to the report, Ms. Lopez said Mr.Apodaca hinted at having a sexual relationship early in their working relationship.
Ms. Lopez alleged that Mr. Apodaca would constantly ask about her personal life and made many extremely offensive and explicit sexual comments.
The comments included references to her breasts; asking if she liked sex with her boyfriend; anal sex; if she knew what a Brazilian Wax was; that Mr. Apodaca would enjoy a “Monica Lewinsky”;’ and while she was chewing gum he would say, “man I would love to be that gum in your mouth.”
Mr. Apodaca also said, “that he often thought of being with her, and wanted her to be his girlfriend.”
Ms. Lopez recalled that Mr. Apodaca even suggested a possible “threesome” with his good friend Leon Garcia.
On another occasion, Ms. Lopez alleged Mr. Apodaca called to her home asking, “what she was doing, what underwear she was wearing, and did she sleep naked?”
Ms. Lopez told Ms. Balin that the suggestions were “common refrains” from Mr. Apodaca during her employment and that she did inform Messrs. Fuentes, Glasman and Bielke.
Within a few weeks, Messrs. Fuentes, Glasman, and Bielke were gone from Central Basin.
From Verbal to Physical
Ms. Lopez said the sexual overtures became physical when Mr. Apodaca took her to Mr. V’s Bar and Grill in La Mirada late December 2012.
After the two-hour dinner, where Ms. Lopez claimed Mr. Apodaca was “continually caressing” her hand and urging her to drink, they went back to Mr. Apodaca’s house.
As Ms. Lopez was getting out of the car, Apodaca “gave me a pat/hug and a peck on the cheek.”
That was the first time Mr. Apodaca became physical with Ms. Lopez, but it would not be the last.
Towards the end of her employment, another more frightening incident occurred with Ms. Lopez alleging that, after getting into his car, Mr. Apodaca grabbed her wrist and pushed her hand onto his groin.
Ms. Lopez described Mr. Apodaca’s repulsive language.
Ms. Lopez quickly exited the car. It was the last time she would see Mr. Apodaca.
Witness Interviews
The Balin interviews of 11 employees led her to conclude that Mr. Apodaca “more likely than not” engaged in sexually explicit comments to Ms. Lopez and made physical sexual overtures towards Ms.Lopez including touching, patting her body, hugs and kisses.
Ms. Balin and EXXTI submitted their report Jan. 15, 2014.
Mr. Apodaca allegedly learned of the report a few days earlier and, in closed session, voted to settle the case and forward it to then-G.M. Tony Perez who submitted it to ACWA-JPIA (Central Basin’s insurance company) for settlement.
Six months later, Ms. Lopez was paid $670,000 and EXXTI was paid over $30,000.
We exclusively reported on the settlement in September 2014, but it was swept under the rug until now.
In an email, Central Basin’s Joseph Legaspi wrote, “The Central Basin Municipal Water District is committed to providing a workplace free of harassment including sexual harassment. This includes providing and requiring training for all Board Members, managers and supervisors on sexual and all other forms of prohibited harassment and abusive conduct. Central Basin’s policy prohibiting harassment of any kind applies to all Board Members, employees, interns, volunteers, and agents of the District.
“In speaking with Director Apodaca, he vehemently denies the allegations from the report.”
This story originated at www.loscerritosnews.net